Mumbai, May 5, 2025 — The inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) concluded on a resounding note in Mumbai on Sunday, marking a milestone event for India’s media and entertainment sector. The four-day global summit received overwhelming participation from industry leaders, startups, policymakers, academia, and the general public, solidifying India’s role as a rising global force in the creative economy.
Organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, WAVES 2025 saw significant commercial and collaborative outcomes. According to the ministry, the WAVES Bazaar initiative alone facilitated over ₹1,328 crore in business transactions and hosted more than 3,000 B2B meetings.
The Maharashtra government capitalized on the event’s momentum, signing MoUs worth ₹8,000 crore, including ₹1,500 crore agreements each with the University of York and the University of Western Australia. The state’s Industries Department also signed major deals with Prime Focus (₹3,000 crore) and Godrej (₹2,000 crore).
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar stressed the importance of blending technology with tradition, advocating youth empowerment through innovation and skill development. Union I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the need to promote local content, co-production models, and joint funding to drive the next phase of industry transformation.
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit served as a powerful convergence of global minds and talent. Over 140 curated sessions featured more than 100 international speakers, held across three primary halls (each seating over 1,000 participants) and five smaller venues.
The plenary sessions showcased over 50 keynote addresses by industry giants such as Ted Sarandos (Netflix), Neal Mohan (YouTube), Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), Mark Read (WPP), and Adam Mosseri (Instagram), who shared insights on digital transformation, entertainment trends, and the future of media.
Cinematic legends like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Nagarjuna, Hema Malini, Allu Arjun, and Shekhar Kapur—many of whom serve on the WAVES Advisory Board—participated in panel discussions exploring the evolving landscape of cinema, virtual production, and the role of artificial intelligence in content creation.
The summit offered 40 masterclasses, including standout sessions such as The Art of Acting by Aamir Khan, The Craft of Direction by Farhan Akhtar, and Insights into Filmmaking by Michael Lehmann. These were complemented by behind-the-scenes explorations into cutting-edge areas like AR lens design, AI avatars, and generative AI game development.
Fifty-five breakout sessions tackled specialized themes across broadcasting, OTT platforms, music, news, animation, live events, comics, and virtual production—catering to a wide cross-section of media professionals and aspiring creators.
A major highlight was the Global Media Dialogue 2025, which drew participation from 77 countries, reinforcing India’s status as a key influencer in the international media and entertainment landscape.
Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan unveiled five major reports at the summit, offering strategic insights into content creation, live events, and regulatory frameworks—painting a comprehensive picture of India’s fast-evolving entertainment ecosystem.
With its dynamic blend of innovation, collaboration, and global thought leadership, WAVES 2025 has firmly positioned itself as a flagship platform to shape the future of media and entertainment in India and beyond.
